How Does the New Amazon Mac Download Store Differ from the Apple Mac Store?

Microsoft is not the only competitor Apple has breathing down its neck. Amazon has demonstrated that it is also committed to bringing the fight to the technology giant. It started back in 2007 with Amazon MP3, which was became a direct competitor to the chart topping iTunes Store. The battle continues with the recent launch of the Amazon Mac Download Store, a new offering designed to compete with the Apple Mac App Store. While both companies are offering what appears to be the same service, there is much that separates these two competitors apart. App Selections The difference between the Amazon Mac Download Store and the Mac App Store can be seen from the outset in the selection of apps. Though it was just released at the beginning of the year along with a Mac OS X update, Apple’s version has a sizable head start, evident by the more than one thousand applications it currently has in its catalog. The Amazon Mac Download Store hit the scene with about 250 titles to its name. Variety is everything in the game of competition, so it is clear to see that Amazon has some catching up to do in this regard. Exclusivity The Apple Mac App Store clearly has the Amazon Mac Download Store beat in terms of selection. However, this battle tells a different story in the exclusivity department. To the surprise of several observers, the Amazon Mac Download Store has some apps Apple’s creation appears to be missing. This includes Microsoft’s popular Office suite and Adobe’s Photoshop elements. By limiting its partners (and excluding apps from independent developers) to well known entitiesrnsuch as Microsoft and Adobe, Amazon gave itself some distance from Apple’s Mac App Store. If the e-commerce powerhouse can keep this up, it may be able to cement itself as a viable alternative. Ease of Use According to early reviews, the Amazon Mac Download Store is less than impressive in the area of usability. In a very short amount of time, the Apple Mac App Store has been able to build a solid reputation for many things, including its simplicity. The online software distribution platform makes it incredibly convenient to browse and select apps for iPods, iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices. With the Amazon Mac Download Store, you get a presentation that mimics the likeness of the company’s traditional website. Unfortunately, its interface has been heavily criticized for being cluttered and difficult to navigate. Conclusion The Amazon Mac Download Store definitely has a lot going for it, but dethroning Apple’s Mac App Store will be a huge challenge. Among more options for potential customers to sift through, it will need support from the developers who were not allowed to get in on the official launch. At this point, only one thing is for certain - Amazon is pretty serious about giving Apple a run for its money. The battle wages on. Only the future will tell on who will be the successor.